Separable fastener stringer



Patented Aug. 23, 1949 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE SEPARABLE FASTENER STRINGER LouisH. Morin, Bronx, N. Y.

Application March 12, 1946, Serial N0. 653,741

5 Cla.ims. 1

This invention relates to separable fasteners of the kind in which the fastener elements or scoops are die cast directly on their tapes.

In accordance with modern methods of manufa.cturing and marketing such fasteners, the scoops are so dimensioned and spaced on their tapes as to provide a. fixed number 015 scoops per unit length of stringer, conveniently, so many per inch. Accordingly, the pitch of the scoops (meaning the distance from, say, the top of one scoop to the top of the adjacent scoop of the same stringer) is carefully predeterminecl. Multiple oavity dies are preferably used for casting the scoops on the tapes, so that a number of scoops can be cast at one.time; and, of course, the several cavities of each die half are spaced in conformity with the requ ired pitch.

The present invention relaces to a scoop-structure whereby, without afiectin-g the pitch, a ingle set of dies can be utilized so to modify the scoop structure as to provide m0re or less play, as may be required, between the neighboring scoops of coupled stringers. The invention also results in a novel stringer assembly.

In general, the invention contemplates the use of off-set dies to produce scoops of a form in which the portionS or halves cf each scoop on each side of the plane of the tape are ofi-set with respect to each other, longitudinally of the taDe. A stringer so formed is then coupled with another identical stringer. That is to say, it is not propo sed to use so called right and left scoops for the respective stringers but; scoops which are all of one form (actually, as produced by the same dies). As the result of the necessary reversal of position of one such stringer to point its scoops toward the scoops of the companion stringer With which it is to be coupled, the offsets, instead cf meshing with one another in overlapped relation, necessarily ride on top 0f each other and thereby serve to take up play between the scoops.

The novel features of the invention will be best understood from the following description When taken together with the accompanyin'g drawing, in which certain embodiment5 of the invention are disclosecl and in whioh the separate parts are designated by suitable reference characters in each of the views, and in which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a scoop made Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 2, showlng a. modified form of scoop; and

Fig. 5 is a diagrammatic vlew showing a pair of dies and illustrating the method 01 casting scoops of astrin-ger by changing relative positions of the dies one with respect to the other.

In the formation of separable fastener stringers, difficulty has been experienced in providing coupling engagement between the scoops of a pair of stringers in a. manner to Frevent longitudinal play in the stringers, which in some instances may be undesirable.

It is the purpose of my invention to provide a novel and simple method of overcoming these objectionable features in the production of die cast scoops, by mounting a pair of dies in such manner as to adjust the relative positions of the dies one with respect to the other so as to form scoop halves ofiset one with respect to the other a distance suflicient; to take-up the longitudinal play. Y

My invention further deals with the construc tion of scoops of V-shaped cross sectional form wherein coupling engagement between scoops of opposed stringers is accomplished by virtue'of the V-shaped cross sectional contour there0f in retaining the scoops against transverse separation, and further wherein the coupling portions of the scoops have unter enlarged heads and inner neck portions retaining the scoops against pull apart separation.

In illustrating one adaptation of my invention, I have shown in Fig. 1 of the drawing a Single scoop I0 mounted upon the beaded edge H of a stringer I2. The scoop I0 comprises a die cast body cast; directly upon the beaded edge H the scoop body comprising two halves I3 and M, integrally united at the adjacent surfaees cf said halves. Each halve has a mounting and portion I5l5' disposed upon the bear II and the tape I2 adjacent the bead. Outwardly of the bead II, each scoop has a projecting coupling end portion, comprising a head l6l8' of substantially hexagon cross sectional contoui, and inwardly of the head is a neck portion l'I-I'l'. The heads and neeks of the scoop halves form male and female coupling portions cf the scoops to retain coupled scoops against pull apart separation, it being understood that the head of one scoop fits the neck portion cf adjacent scoops of an opposed stringer, as is well known in thls art.

The specific structure of the head, aside from the general descriptions, given above, will n0t he dealt with, as these structures form no particular part of the present invention, and may be varied. It might be mentioned, however, that the walls of the heads I6--IG converge outwardly to a slight extent, as will appear from a consideration of the section in Fi-g. 2 of the drawing. In this 60 figure, all background illustrations cf the respective scoops is omitted for sake of clarity in 11- lustrating the present; invention. The section shown is through the heads of the scoops of one tr n r and t rough the necks of the scoops of the opposed stringer. For illustrative purposes, the head portions of the scoops shown will designate scoops I of one stringer, whereas I0 will represent the scoops of an opp0sed stringer.

The scoop halves I3 and I0 are ofiset one w1th respect; to the other, for examp1e, the scoop ha1ve I3 is offset upwardly to forxn a, raised shoulder portion I8 at the intersection of the scoop halves and facing in the direction of the scoop ha1ve I I. 'I'his also forms a downwardly ofiset shoulder portion I9 on the scoop halve I0, which faces m the dlrection 0f the scoop halve I3. In Fig. 2 of the drawing and to distinguish scoops of qne stringer from those of a companion stringer, l1ke structures in the common scoops I0--I0' will be designated as follows.

Sboops I0 have scoop halveg I3a and I0a, s1m1- 1ar to the halves I3 and I4, and the shoulder portions I8a and I9a aresimilar to the shoulder portions I8 and I9, whereas I'Ia and I'Ib represent the neck portions 013 the scoops, similar to the neck portions I'I and II.

In coup1ing scoops of opposed stringers, I:I1e arrangement is reversed, as will clear1y appear 1n Fig. 2 of the drawing. In 0I;her words, thehalves I3 of the scoops I0 are at the left; in Fig. 2, and the halves I3a on the scoops I0 to the right. II: will be understood that the present Illustration in Fig. 2 is exaggerated for sake of clarity, as the degree 0f ofiset between the scoop halvs to take up clearance between coupled scoops will vary and may, in some instances, be very slight. The reverse arrangement of the scoop halves brings the shoulder portions I8a of the scoops I0 in alinement with the shoulder portions I9 of the scoops I0, and the shoulder portions I 9a of the scoops I0 in alinement, With the shoulder portions I8 of the scoop I0. This construction disposes the raised portions of the scoop ha1ves in alinement in control of the play or clearance between coupled scoops of a pair of stringers.

In Fig. 3 cf the drawing, I haVe shown at 20 scoops similar to the scoops I0, and ab 20', a scoop similar to the scoop I0, of what is more or 1ess conventional construction and arrangement, and in an exaggerated manner, I have shown at 2I -clearances between adjacent coupled scoops, that is to say between the heads of the scoops 20 and the necks 0f the scoops 20'. T0 take up these clearances, the scoop halves are cast in the ofiset; relation'ship shown in Fig. 2, producing a result substantially similar to the diagrammatic illustration of Fig. 2. v

In Fig. of the drawing I haVe shown ab 22-22 a. pair of dies for forming the scoops on -a stringer. For example, scoops similar to the scoops I0. These dies have sc0op forming cavities 2323 which if maintained in common alinement one with respect to the other, wou1d Turm scoops similar to the scoops 20 cf Fig. 3. However, by mounting I:he dies in a manner to shift one or both dies to offset the cavities 23-23' the ofiset scoop halves I3 and I4 can be formed in the manner i]lustrated in Fis. 5. One die may be retained stationary and the other die adjusted upwardly or downwardly 1:0 form the desired ofiset in the resulting scoop structure. The degree of shifting of the dies one With respect to the other will govern the take-up cf clearance between the coupled scoops. II; will appear from a consideratlon of Fig. 5 0f the draw- Ing that the offsettlng of the dies d0es not interfere in any way with the formation of scoops of what I term the coreless type, thus facilitatlng the formation of several scoops ab a time on the beaded edge of the stringer. The entire wall structllre of each scoop halve is such as I;o free the scoops from the dies in the separation thereof, particularly in accordance with the teachings In my prior application Ser. N0. 546,180, filed July 22, 1944, now Patent N0. 2,426408.

In Fig. 4 of the drawing I have shown a sectional view similar to the showing in Fig.-2 I;o illustra.te a, slightly different form o1 scoop. In this construction, the scoops 24 would be similar the scoops I0 and the scoops 24' similar to the scoops I0, the primary difference being that unter end portions of the scoop halves 25 and 26 ha.ve beve1led corner portions as at 21 and 28. This construction saves some material in the formation of the scoops, and further facilitates bending of the scoops in removing the corner extremities, as appearing in Fig. 2 of the drawing. Aside from these bevelled corner portions, the scoop structure 01 Fig. 4 is identical with that of Fig. 2 of the drawing. Therefore, no further description will be made. In the showing of the scoops 2d of the opposed stringer, reference characters 26a and 25a are employea to identify the scoop halves and 21a and 28a to disclose the corner portions, similar I;o the corner portions 21 and 28.

Considering Fig. 5 of the drawing, 29 and 30 represent adjacent surfaces of the dies 22-22', which define what is commonly referred 130 as the parting line of the dies. This parting line forms the 1ine of subdivisionof the scoop halves one from the other, and produces the shou1der portions, as for example, at I 8 and I9.

In forming scoops on a. stringer, it is a common practice to cast the scoop in what is referred to as inch increments. In order to provide a control and gage of stringer lengths, quite often a plurality of scoops of a size are simultaneously ca-st on the tape and this group of scoops would define the inch increment. It Will be apparent thatthe formation of scoops in accordance with the method herein defined will in no way efiect or alter this standard method cf procedure in that the spacing of the scoops on each stringer is the same as the standara spacing employed. The offsetting of the scoop halves is simply to take up the play which may prevail between scoops of copled stringers.

Having fully described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A s1ide fastener assembly comprising a stringer tape having spaced fastener elements coupled with scoops of a companion stringer tape, each scoop of each stringer being divided in the plane cf the tapes Into halves ofiset with respect to each other longitudinally of the tapes, the scoops of both stringers being identical, and the ofiset portions of adjacent, coupled scoops being superimposed on one another alternately on opposite sides 0f the plane 01 the tapes.

2. A pair of slide fastener stringers having reducedplay between adjacent coupled scoops thereof comprising: identical interengaging scoops on each stringer, each scoop comprising a pair of halves offset depthwise with respect to the scoop and throughout the length thereof to form oflset portions on opposite sides of the scoop, the offset portlons o1 the scoops of one strlnger being engaged with the offset portions o! scoops of the uther stringer.

3. A pair of slide fastener stringers having reduced play between adjacent coupled scoops thereof comprising: identical interengaging scoops on each stringer, each scoop comprising a pair of halves ofiset depthwise with respect 120 the scoop and throughout the length thereof to form upper and lower ofiset portions 011 opposite sides of the scoop, the upper offset portions of the scoops of one stringer being engaged with the lower ofiset portions of the scoops of the other stringer.

4. A pair of slide fastener stringers having reduced play between adjacent coupled scoops thereof comprising: identical interengaging scoops on each stringer, each scoop having on opposite sides thereof an outwardly extending shoulder along the entire length cf the scoop, the shoulders cf the scoops of one stringer being engaged with the shoulders of the scoops of the other strlnger.

5. A pair cf slide fastener stringers having REFERENCES CIIED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2269880 Morin Jan. 13, 1942 2361782 Low Oct. 31, 1944 2394,211 Sifl' Feb. 5, 1946 FORE'IGN PATENTS Number Country Date 582,331 Germany Aug. 12, 1933 

